Hey guys, it’s me, Connor. The guy from the news briefs, who yelled at you to go give blood that one time. It was last year, you might not remember.

I’m also the editor in chief here at the Ebbtide. But this is the last time I’ll be able to say that.

And no, it’s not because I’m getting fired after that thing with the guy at the place that one time.

I, like many on campus, am graduating on June 21. Transferring, really. To UW Seattle, if you were curious.

But I’ve got limited space here, and I don’t want to talk about me. Well, not only about me. I want to talk about SCC and the Ebbtide and the spectacular, unbelievable people I’ve shared these last two years with.

People like the faculty, who replaced the cynicism of massive lectures and checked-out tenure holders with the optimism of personal interest and genuine peer discussion. And professors, who reminded me why I love learning in just my first quarter back at school after nearly a decade away. Who reminded me that history isn’t all dates and drudgery, or who made me believe that maybe I wasn’t somehow physically incapable of writing an academic paper. And teachers who showed Seattle weather can make sense, made logic even more logical and brought the planets into reach.

Even people like the instructors, who helped me realize exactly what I didn’t want to do with my life and education, who were honestly some of my favorites.

And students, who brought me out of a long, dark time, who reminded me that I’m an extrovert, who helped me learn and who let me help them. We didn’t all become lifelong friends or anything, but you were what I needed at the time, and I hope I was too.

And lastly, the Ebbtide. A long, strange, sometimes painful road led me to SCC. But it turned out to be one of the best things to ever happen to me. I am so, so proud of both my crews over the last two years, and I can’t remind you enough that none of what we accomplished could have happened without each of you.

I’ve learned so much, and in more ways than I ever could have anticipated when I first stepped on this campus with a mind to barrel through school on my way to what I hoped were brighter tomorrows.

So thank you, SCC. To everyone I can think of, and everyone I can’t, thank you.

The best I can give back is this advice: Enjoy it. All of it. Every second that doesn’t totally suck, just embrace it. And if you can’t, if the bad parts aren’t in service to something good, then fix it. Talk it out, plan it out or fight your way out.

Rock on, geek out and give blood, ‘Phins.

One time editor in chief, forever grateful,

    -Connor Tee